JP2014075555A - Thermoelectric conversion power generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermoelectric conversion power generator in which reduction of power generation performance can be minimized by reducing thermal effect on the heating part from a cooling part.SOLUTION: On both sides of a heating part 35A where a heating passage 351 is formed in a distribution pipe 35, a thermoelectric conversion module 4, and cooling parts 5A, 5B are disposed, respectively, and a power is generated by giving a temperature difference to the thermoelectric conversion module 4. In such a thermoelectric conversion power generator, a compartment 39 separated from the cooling parts 5A, 5B is provided on at least one side at respective ends on the side of the heating passage 351 corresponding to the upstream side and downstream side thereof in the cooling parts 5A, 5B. Thermal effect on the cooling parts 5A, 5B from the heating part 35A is reduced by insulating thermally in the compartment 39.

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermoelectric power generation apparatus that converts a thermal energy into an electrical energy by giving a temperature difference to a thermoelectric conversion module.

  A power generation technique for converting thermal energy into electrical energy using a thermoelectric conversion element is known. The thermoelectric conversion element uses a Seebeck effect in which a potential difference is generated between a high-temperature part and a low-temperature part by giving a temperature difference to a separated part, and the power generation amount increases as the temperature difference increases. Such a thermoelectric conversion element is used in the form of a thermoelectric conversion element module in which a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements are joined. Then, the thermoelectric conversion module is sandwiched between the heating unit and the cooling unit, and the thermoelectric conversion module is heated by the heating unit and cooled by the cooling unit, thereby giving a temperature difference to the thermoelectric conversion module, and electricity from the thermoelectric conversion module is obtained. A thermoelectric conversion power generation device is obtained (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-088408 A

  In this type of power generation device, for example, it is mounted on a vehicle and used to generate power using exhaust heat such as exhaust gas from an engine. In that case, the power generator is formed in a tubular shape as a whole, and a heating fluid is flowed through the central heating flow path to form a heating unit, and a thermoelectric conversion module and cooling water are supplied around the heating unit. It becomes the structure which arrange | positioned the cooling part. In such a structure, when the cooling unit is heated by the heating unit, it becomes difficult to obtain a large temperature difference, which causes a problem that power generation performance is reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a main problem thereof is to provide a thermoelectric conversion power generation device that can reduce a thermal effect that the cooling unit receives from the heating unit and suppress a decrease in power generation performance. is there.

  The thermoelectric conversion power generation apparatus of the present invention is provided with a heating unit and a cooling unit on both sides of the thermoelectric conversion module, respectively, and the thermoelectric conversion type generates electricity by giving a temperature difference to the thermoelectric conversion module by the heating unit and the cooling unit. In the power generation device, the heating unit has a heating channel through which a heating fluid flows, and each end corresponding to an upstream side and a downstream side of the heating channel in the cooling unit at a side of the heating channel. On at least one side, a compartment that separates the heating unit and the cooling unit is provided.

  According to the present invention, the heat effect from the heating unit to the cooling unit is suppressed by the heat insulating effect of the compartment provided between the heating unit and the cooling unit, and the decrease in power generation performance is suppressed.

  The present invention includes a mode in which an electrical lead drawn from the thermoelectric conversion module is wired in the compartment. According to this aspect, since the electric conducting wire wired in the compartment is hardly affected by the heat from the heating unit, deterioration of the electric conducting wire can be suppressed and the reliability of the apparatus can be improved.

  Moreover, in this invention, the said compartment is arrange | positioned in the downstream of the said heating flow path, and the form by which the said electrical conducting wire is wired by this downstream compartment is included. According to this embodiment, since the temperature of the heated fluid is lower on the downstream side than on the upstream side, the temperature influence on the electrical conductor can be reduced more than when the compartment is arranged on the upstream side. This is more effective in terms of suppressing deterioration of the electrical conductor.

  In the present invention, the thermoelectric conversion module is housed in a sealed container, and the heating unit, the cooling unit, and the compartment are provided outside the sealed container, and the sealed container is decompressed. . According to this form, since the thermoelectric conversion module is hardly heated, oxidation resistance is improved, deterioration of the thermoelectric conversion module is suppressed, and power generation performance is improved. In addition, since the compartment may be in an atmospheric state, high airtightness is not required in the portion where the electric conducting wire penetrates from the compartment to the outside of the apparatus. Further, since the electric conducting wire is not passed through the cooling unit, an airtight sealing structure that allows the electric conducting wire to pass through the cooling unit is unnecessary. In these respects, the apparatus is simplified and the reliability is improved.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, there exists an effect that the thermoelectric conversion type electric power generating apparatus which can reduce the thermal influence which a cooling part receives from a heating part, and can suppress the fall of electric power generation performance is provided.

It is the whole perspective view in the state where the outer side cover of the thermoelectric conversion type power generator concerning one embodiment of the present invention was removed. It is the other direction perspective view of the same apparatus which is the same state as FIG. It is a side view of the thermoelectric conversion power generation device of one embodiment. It is IV-IV sectional drawing of FIG. It is a front view of the thermoelectric conversion type generator of one embodiment. It is VI-VI sectional drawing of FIG. (A) It is a front view of the electric power generation unit which comprises the thermoelectric conversion type electric power generating apparatus of one Embodiment, (b) It is the side view except a fin. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 6, which is a cross-sectional view showing a heating unit, a cooling unit, and a compartment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[1] Overall Configuration of Thermoelectric Conversion Power Generation Device FIGS. 1 to 6 show a thermoelectric conversion power generation device (hereinafter referred to as a power generation device) 1 according to an embodiment. In this power generation device 1, a plurality of power generation units 2 each having a sealed container 3 are stacked in a parallel state with a cooling unit 5A sandwiched in the Y direction in the figure, and cooling units are also provided on both side surfaces of the entire device 1, that is, both ends in the Y direction. 5B is arranged. The number of the power generation units 2 is arbitrary, and in this case, the power generation apparatus 1 is configured by stacking four power generation units 2.

  The hermetic container 3 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped casing 30 whose longitudinal section (YZ section) is long in the Z direction, and a flat tube whose longitudinal section disposed in the center of the casing 30 is long in the Z direction. And a sealing cover 38 (see FIG. 6) that closes the openings at both ends in the X direction. Both the casing 30 and the flow pipe 35 are open at both ends in the X direction, and the inside of the flow pipe 35 is a heating flow path 351 through which a heating fluid described later flows in the X direction.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the housing 30 includes a pair of movable plate portions 31 that are parallel to the XZ plane and that face each other, and a pair of flat end plate portions that connect upper and lower edges of the movable plate portion 31. 32 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape. Further, the flow pipe 35 includes a pair of inner plate portions 36 parallel to the XZ plane and facing each other, and a pair of curved portions 37 having a semicircular cross section that connects the upper and lower end edges of the inner plate portion 36. It is formed in a flat tubular shape.

  Fins 352 are disposed inside the flow pipe 35, that is, in the heating flow path 351 in the sealed container 3. The fins 352 are formed, for example, by bending a plate material into a corrugated plate shape, and are joined by a joining means such as brazing while the outer side of the bent portion is in contact with the inner surface of the inner plate portion 36. In the present embodiment, fins 352 are disposed in the heating flow path 351, and the heating section 35A is configured by the flow pipe 35 through which the heating fluid flows.

  A substantially annular inner space 3a having a longitudinal section that is long in the Z direction is formed in the sealed container 3, that is, between the inner surface of the housing 30 and the outer surface of the flow pipe 35. And the thermoelectric conversion module 4 is each arrange | positioned in the state pinched | interposed between the movable plate part 31 of the housing | casing 30, and the inner plate part 36 of the flow pipe 35 in the Y direction both sides in this internal space 3a. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the plurality of sealed containers 3 in which the thermoelectric conversion modules 4 are disposed in a pair of states in regions on both sides in the Y direction of the internal space 3 a include the cooling unit 5 </ b> A between the movable plate units 31. They are stacked in parallel in the Y direction. In addition, cooling units 5B are also disposed on the outer surfaces of the movable plate 31 at both ends in the Y direction. Hereinafter, the cooling unit 5A between the sealed containers 3 is referred to as an intermediate cooling unit 5A, and the cooling units 5B at both ends in the Y direction are referred to as end cooling units 5B.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the thermoelectric conversion module 4 connects one surface and the other surface of a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements 41 arranged in a plane in a zigzag manner by an electrode 42 made of copper or the like. The electrode 42 on one surface side is joined to the inner surface of the inner plate portion 36 of the flow pipe 35 by a joining means such as brazing. The electrode 42 on the other surface side of the thermoelectric conversion module 4 is in contact with the inner surface of the inner rigid portion 312 described later of the movable plate portion 31 of the housing 30. That is, the thermoelectric conversion module 4 is in a non-bonded state with the inner rigid portion 312, and both can move relative to each other along the contact surface.

  As the thermoelectric conversion element 41 constituting the thermoelectric conversion module 4, a type having a high heat-resistant temperature is used. For example, a silicon-germanium system, a magnesium-silicon system, a manganese-silicon system, an iron silicide system, or the like is preferably used. As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the thermoelectric conversion modules 4 on both sides of the flow pipe 35 are connected at the lower ends by connecting wires 45, and the thermoelectric conversion modules 4 on both sides are used to supply power to one power generation unit 2. Configure. As shown in FIG. 6, one lead wire (electrical conducting wire of the present invention) 46 is connected to each thermoelectric conversion module 4 on both sides of the flow pipe 35.

[2] Configuration of Airtight Container As shown in FIG. 7, the movable plate portion 31 constituting the casing 30 of the airtight container 3 includes an outer rigid portion 311 formed in a rectangular frame shape, and an outer rigid portion. The inner rigid portion 312 having the same thickness as the outer rigid portion 311 disposed on the inner side of 311 and the gap 314 having a constant width formed between the outer rigid portion 311 and the inner rigid portion 312 are closed. The deformed portion 313 is thinner than the thickness of each rigid portion 311, 312.

  The inner edge 311a of the outer rigid portion 311 is formed in a substantially oval shape, and the outer edge 312a of the inner rigid portion 312 is formed in a substantially oval shape with a certain gap 314 from the inner edge 311a of the outer rigid portion 311. Yes. A flexible thin plate 315 is joined to the outer surface of the inner rigid portion 312 by a joining means such as brazing. The thin plate 315 has a size that covers the gap 314 between the rigid portions 311, 312 and reaches the outer surface of the outer rigid portion 311, and the outer edge portion is joined to the outer surface of the outer rigid portion 311 such as brazing. It is joined with. The thin plates 315 are connected so that the rigid portions 311 and 312 are in the same plane. In the present embodiment, the rigid portions 311 and 312 are present in the same plane, but the positional relationship between the rigid portions 311 and 312 is not limited to this, and one of the rigid portions 311 and 312 is displaced inward by the thin plate 315. The connected structure may be sufficient.

  A portion of the thin plate 315 covering the gap 314 constitutes a substantially annular deformed portion 313 having flexibility. As shown in FIG. 8, a convex strip 313 a that protrudes inward is formed at the center in the width direction of the deformable portion 313 (two-dot chain line).

  Edges on both sides in the Z direction of the outer rigid portion 311 are formed so as to be integrated with the end plate portion 32. That is, the outer rigid portion 311 on both sides is integrally formed with the pair of upper and lower end plate portions 32, and the inner rigid portion 312 is joined to the outer rigid portion 311 via the thin plate 315 to constitute the housing 30. The inner rigid portion 312 has a size that covers the thermoelectric conversion module 4 and is in contact with the entire surface of one side of the thermoelectric conversion module 4.

  A plurality of decompression sealing ports 321 are provided in the upper end plate portion 32 of the sealed container 3, and the internal space 3 a in the sealed container 3 is decompressed using these decompression sealing ports 321. When the inside of the hermetic container 3 is depressurized, the deformable portion 313 having flexibility is deformed so that the protruding strip portion 313a further protrudes inward as shown by a solid line in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the openings on both sides in the X direction of the internal space 3 a of the sealed container 3 are closed by a sealing cover 38 which is U-shaped and has an oval cross section as a whole. . The sealing cover 38 is airtightly joined to the inner surface of the outer rigid portion 311 of the movable plate portion 31 and the outer surface of the end portion in the X direction of the flow pipe 35. The internal space 3 a of the sealed container 3 is hermetically sealed by the housing 30, the distribution pipe 35 and the sealing cover 38. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an outer cover 33 is joined to both end surfaces of the casing 30 of each sealed container 3 in the X direction, and both sides of the apparatus 1 in the X direction are covered with the outer cover 33. ing. Both end portions in the X direction of each flow pipe 35 protrude from each housing 30, and the protruding end portions pass through flow pipe insertion holes 331 formed in the outer cover 33 and protrude to the outside. 1 and 2 do not show the outer cover 33 in order to show the inside of the hermetic container 3 and the intermediate cooling part 5A.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the heating unit 35 </ b> A is disposed inside the thermoelectric conversion module 4, and the cooling units 5 </ b> A and 5 </ b> B are disposed outside the thermoelectric conversion module 4. The heating fluid H is allowed to flow in one direction (in this case, from left to right) in the heating channel 351 in the flow pipe 35 of the heating unit 35A, and heating in the cooling units 5A and 5B on the side of the heating channel 351 is performed. At each end corresponding to the upstream side and the downstream side of the flow path 351, that is, at both ends in the X direction of the cooling parts 5A and 5B, compartments 39 partitioned by the sealing cover 38 and the outer cover 33 are respectively provided. Is formed. These compartments 39 are separated from the heating part 35A and the cooling parts 5A and 5B.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, lead wires 46 drawn from the thermoelectric conversion modules 4 are inserted and wired in the downstream compartments 39. Of these lead wires 46, the lead wires 46 on both sides of the intermediate cooling section 5A are connected in the compartment 39, and the lead wires 46 on the end cooling section 5B side penetrate the outer cover 33 and are drawn out of the apparatus. (See FIGS. 1 and 2). Therefore, in this apparatus 1, a plurality of internal thermoelectric conversion modules 4 are connected in series, and two external lead wires 46 of + and − are drawn out of the apparatus so that electricity can be taken out from these lead wires 46. It has become. The compartment 39 is formed in an annular shape, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lead wire 46 is drawn from the thermoelectric conversion module 4 at a position corresponding to the upper end portion of the flow pipe 35 in these drawings and wired. Yes.

  The sealed container 3 sucks the internal air from the decompression sealing port 321 to decompress the internal space 3a in the sealed container 3 to a predetermined pressure (for example, about 1 to 100 Pa), and welds the decompression sealing port 321. And hermetically sealed. When the inside of the sealed container 3 is depressurized, the deformable portion 313 having flexibility of the movable plate portion 31 is deformed so that the protruding portion 313a further protrudes inward as shown by the solid line in FIG. The inner rigid portion 312 is in close contact with the thermoelectric conversion module 4.

[3] Cooling unit The intermediate cooling unit 5A and the end cooling unit 5B include cooling cases 53A and 53B, respectively. The cooling case 53A of the intermediate cooling part 5A is formed in a frame shape along the periphery of the outer rigid part 311 of the movable plate part 31, and is sandwiched between adjacent outer rigid parts 311. It is joined to the outer peripheral edge. That is, in the present apparatus 1, the adjacent casings 30 are in a state where the adjacent outer rigid portions 311 are joined together via the cooling case 53A. A cooling jacket 53a is formed inside the intermediate cooling part 5A surrounded by the cooling case 53A and the movable plate parts 31 on both sides sandwiching the cooling case 53A to cool the movable plate part 31 as a cooling water flow path. Has been.

  On the other hand, the cooling case 53B of the end cooling unit 5B is formed in a lid shape that covers the movable plate 31 at the end, and the shallow recess formed on one side is directed toward the movable plate 31 to end the cooling plate 53B. The edge is joined to the outer peripheral edge of the outer rigid portion 311. A cooling jacket 53 b that is supplied with cooling water to cool the movable plate portion 31 is formed in the end cooling portion 5 </ b> B surrounded by the inner surface of the cooling case 53 </ b> B and the movable plate portion 31.

  In each of the cooling cases 53A and 53B of the intermediate cooling unit 5A and the end cooling unit 5B, a cooling water supply port 51 is formed at the lower end surface, and a cooling water drain port 52 is formed at the upper end surface. The cooling water supply port 51 and the cooling water drain port 52 are formed in the center in the X direction, and a cooling water supply pipe and a drain pipe (not shown) are connected to the cooling water supply port 51 and the cooling water drain port 52, respectively. The

  A plurality of fins 7 that contact the inner rigid portion 312 of the movable plate portion 31 and the thermoelectric conversion module 4 are provided in the cooling jackets 53a and 53b of the intermediate cooling portion 5A and the end cooling portion 5B.

[4] Action of Power Generation Device In the power generation device 1 having the above-described configuration, cooling water is supplied and circulated in the cooling jackets 53a and 53b, and the movable plate portion 31 of the hermetic container 3 is cooled. On the other hand, a high-temperature heating fluid H is flowed from one end side to the other end side through the heating flow path 351 of each flow pipe 35 to heat the flow pipe 35. The temperature of the cooled movable plate portion 31 is transmitted to the outer surface side of the thermoelectric conversion module 4, and the outer surface side of the thermoelectric conversion module 4 is cooled, while the temperature of the inner plate portion 36 of the heated flow pipe 35 is heated. The inner surface side of the thermoelectric conversion module 4 is heated. The heating fluid H does not diffuse by flowing through the heating flow path 351, and the inner plate portion 36 of the flow pipe 35 is efficiently heated.

  In the present embodiment, the movable plate portion 31 of the housing 30 serves as a cooling-side plate member, and the inner plate portion 36 of the flow pipe 35 constitutes a heating-side plate member. In this way, a temperature difference is given between the outer surface side and the inner surface side of the thermoelectric conversion module 4, whereby the thermoelectric conversion module 4 generates power and electricity is taken out from the external lead wire 46.

  In the power generation apparatus 1 of this embodiment, for example, exhaust heat gas generated in a factory or a garbage incinerator, automobile exhaust gas, or the like is used as the heating fluid H.

[5] Operational Effect of One Embodiment According to the power generation apparatus 1 of the above-described embodiment, the cooling unit 35A is cooled by the heat insulating effect of the compartment 39 provided between the heating unit 35A and the cooling units 5A and 5B. The influence of heat on 5A and 5B is suppressed, and the decrease in power generation performance is suppressed. In particular, since the compartment 39 is arranged on the upstream side of the heating fluid H, the cooling units 5A and 5B are less likely to be affected by the high heat from the heating fluid H that is higher in temperature than the downstream side.

  Moreover, the lead wire 46 drawn out from the thermoelectric conversion module is wired in the downstream compartment 39, so that the lead wire 46 is hardly affected by the heat from the heating portion, and the deterioration of the lead wire 46 is suppressed. The reliability of the apparatus can be improved. In this embodiment, since the lead wire 46 is wired in the downstream compartment 39, the temperature of the downstream heated fluid H is lower than that of the upstream side. It can be further reduced, and is more effective in suppressing deterioration.

  Further, since the thermoelectric conversion module 4 is housed in the sealed container 3 to be decompressed, the thermoelectric conversion module 4 is hardly heated from the heating portion 39A, and as a result, the oxidation resistance is improved and deterioration is suppressed. This also improves the power generation performance. In addition, since the inside of the compartment 39 is in the atmospheric state, the airtightness of the portion through which the lead wire 46 penetrates from the compartment 39 to the outside of the apparatus is unnecessary. Further, since the lead wire 46 is not structured to pass through the cooling parts 5A and 5B, an airtight sealing structure that allows the lead wire 46 to penetrate the cooling parts 5A and 5B is not necessary. In these respects, the apparatus can be simplified and the reliability can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, the thermoelectric conversion module 4, the cooling side plate member (in this case, the inner rigid portion 312 of the movable plate portion 31 in the sealed container 3), and the heating side plate member (in this case, the sealed container 3). For example, a cushioning material made of a flexible material may be disposed between at least one of the inner plate portions 36) of the flow pipe 35 in FIG. In the case of such a configuration, the sealed container 3 abuts against the thermoelectric conversion module 4 through the buffer material in a pressurized state, and the thermoelectric conversion module 4 is protected by the buffer material.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Thermoelectric conversion type generator 3 ... Sealed container 35A ... Heating part 351 ... Heating flow path 39 ... Compartment 4 ... Thermoelectric conversion module 46 ... Lead wire (electrical conductor)
5A, 5B ... Cooling part H ... Heated fluid

Claims (4)

In the thermoelectric conversion power generator that generates power when a heating unit and a cooling unit are respectively disposed on both sides of the thermoelectric conversion module and a temperature difference is given to the thermoelectric conversion module by the heating unit and the cooling unit.
The heating unit has a heating channel through which a heating fluid flows,
A compartment that separates the heating unit and the cooling unit is provided at a side of the heating channel and at least one end of each end of the cooling unit corresponding to the upstream side and the downstream side of the heating channel. A thermoelectric conversion power generation device characterized by being provided.   The thermoelectric conversion power generator according to claim 1, wherein an electrical lead drawn from the thermoelectric conversion module is wired in the compartment.   The thermoelectric conversion power generator according to claim 2, wherein the compartment is disposed on the downstream side of the heating flow path, and the electric conducting wire is wired in the compartment on the downstream side. .   The thermoelectric conversion module is housed in a sealed container, the heating unit, the cooling unit, and the compartment are provided outside the sealed container, and the sealed container is depressurized. 4. The thermoelectric conversion power generation device according to any one of 3 above.

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